Solaris by Stanisław Lem
Translated by Bill Johnston
Illustrated by Matt Murphy
Afterword by Jerzy Jarzębski
“Human beings set out to encounter other worlds, other civilizations, without having fully gotten to know their own hidden recesses, their blind alleys, well shafts, dark barricaded doors.”
I’m proud to present our letterpress-printed, illustrated edition of Stanisław Lem’s classic science fiction novel Solaris.
It is the first print edition utilizing the direct Polish-to-English translation of the novel. Not only does the translation restore the author’s intended character names, meanings, and stylistic nuances, it accurately conveys his semi-philosophical and poetic language.
For over thirteen years, Bill Johnston and the Lem estate have tried to make this preferred translation more widely available, and we’re proud to be partnering with Bill, the Lem estate, and Faber & Faber to make this a reality.
Solaris is a profound exploration of human cognition and the limits of communication. Set on a distant planet covered by a sentient ocean, the novel follows psychologist Kris Kelvin as he confronts a mysterious manifestation from his past. This seminal work combines philosophical inquiry with science fiction, creating a narrative that is as thought-provoking as it is haunting. Lem’s masterful storytelling delves into themes of isolation, memory, and the quest for knowledge, making Solaris a timeless classic.
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Edition Information ❦ Collector’s Edition ❦ Deluxe Edition ❦ Lettered Edition ❦ Artwork ❦ Afterword ❦ Typography ❦ Printing
Edition Information
Our edition of Solaris by Stanisław Lem is limited to 626 copies and is published in three states: Collector’s Edition, Deluxe Edition, and Lettered Edition.
Matt Murphy has created sixteen full-colour illustrations and fourteen detailed black and white chapter openers, all of which will be reproduced using four-colour lithography.
The text is printed by Nomad Letterpress, who previously printed our editions of J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan and Joe Hill’s Faun, and all copies are hand bound by Ludlow Bookbinders.
The edition has a trim size of 170mm by 240mm (6.7in by 9.5in) and comprises 250 pages. All copies are sewn and include a ribbon marker and head and tail bands. I’ve set the text in Komunikat FA from Fontarte, and FF Good and FF More from Łukasz Dziedzic.
As with every Conversation Tree Press book, you can expect:
- A newly typeset book, thoughtfully designed in harmony with the binding, artwork, and subject matter.
- All colour artwork reproduced in full colour across all editions.
- All artwork included in every state.
- A limited edition that will never be reprinted.
- A custom, handmade slipcase or other enclosure made of thick, sturdy boards with the insides lined in Suedel for maximum protection, at no additional cost.
Collector’s Edition:
Availability:
1. Wednesday, November 13th at 10am ET: Collectors who have Deluxe/Lettered rights from their Foundation pre-order will be able to pre-order a Collector’s Edition of Solaris along with their matching Deluxe/Lettered copy at this time.
2. Friday November 15th at 12pm ET: All remaining copies of the Collector’s Edition become available to the public.
The Collector’s Edition is limited to 400 unnumbered copies hand-bound by Ludlow Bookbinders.
It is bound in full cloth printed with a striking illustration from Matt Murphy, with the title, author and artist foil stamped in white on the spine. The endpapers are GF Smith Colorplan Amethyst.
Because of the extensive colour artwork and highly detailed, textured black and white illustrations, all artwork is being printed using four-colour lithography. To simplify production, we’ve decided to upgrade the Collector’s Edition paper to match the paper used for the Deluxe Edition—Fedrigoni Arena White 140gsm (95lb)—a paper and weight we would normally reserve for Deluxe Editions only.
Each copy is enclosed in a custom slipcase handmade by Ludlow Bookbinders, wrapped in dark purple Corvon Carbon-X, giving it an industrial carbon fibre look, with the inside lined in soft suedel for protection.
Signed by Matt Murphy.
US$275. Shipping is expected in June 2025.
Deluxe Edition
Availability:
1. Wednesday, November 13th at 10am ET: Email sent to collectors who have Deluxe rights from Foundation to pre-order matching copies of Solaris from #1-150 during a private 48 hour period ending on Friday November 15th at 10am ET.
2. Friday November 15th at 12pm ET: Unclaimed copies between #1-150, and copies #151-200 available to the public. Copies between #1-150 will be assigned first based on order time and will come with rights to the next book we publish.
The Deluxe Edition is hand-bound by Ludlow Bookbinders and limited to 200 copies, each individually numbered by hand.
It is a full leather binding in dark blue Harmatan & Oakridge leather from the UK, celebrated for its exceptional quality and typically reserved exclusively for our Lettered editions. From their Fine Leather Range of goatskin, only the very best skins are selected, dyed, and hand-polished to highlight the natural grain, without pigment finishes or grain correction, preserving their authentic character.
Each piece of leather has been hand-marbled by Freya Scott of Paperwilds with a custom wave pattern on the lower section with silver pigment sprinkled across the top, evoking the image of Solaris’s ocean reaching into the dark expanse of space.
The endsheets are purple Peregrina Majestic with a duo-toned shimmer effect when it catches the light, and the top edge is gilded.
The book is encased in a custom acrylic slipcase, akin to a specimen carefully displayed for scientific study behind glass, with the title etched along the spine.
Edited to add:
While I’m confident that the slipcase for the Deluxe state of Solaris would perform quite well as designed, as do the acrylic slipcases I have from other presses, I've decided to implement a few refinements more in keeping with our usual design approach while keeping the original concept intact.
- Thick greyboard construction, likely covered in Corvon Carbon-X, the same material used on the Collector’s slipcase.
- A Suedel-lined interior.
- The acrylic spine of the original design, which filters 90% of UV light, will be retained, along with the title etched on it.
We will have a prototype ready within the coming weeks. Please note, pre-orders for the Deluxe Solaris will include the updated slipcase by default, with no option to exchange it for those of the Standard or Lettered states.
The artwork is printed using four-colour lithography and the text is letterpress-printed by Nomad Letterpress on Fedrigoni Arena White 140gsm (95lb) paper.
Copies #1-150 come with “rights” to pre-order a matching number of the next book from the Press during a private pre-order window.
US$745. Shipping is expected in June 2025.
Lettered
Availability:
1. Wednesday, November 13th at 10am ET: Copies available to Lettered rights holders during a private 48 hour period ending on Friday November 15th at 10am ET.
2. Friday November 15th at 12pm ET: Any remaining copies available for sale via public lottery.
The Lettered edition is limited to 26 copies inscribed A to Z. It is hand-bound by Ludlow Bookbinders in a design inspired by Matt Murphy’s depictions of Solaris’s ocean.
The waves flow seamlessly across the boards and spine and are crafted with multiple leather inlays in a palette of four colors: Harmatan and Oakridge’s blackberry, purple and hydrangea goatskins from their Fine Leather Range; and Valencia rose pink lamb nappa.
Head and tail bands are made of leather, each matching the colour of the leather inlay. Endsheets are Takeo Tant Select in pink and the top edge is gilded.
The artwork is printed using four-colour lithography and the text is letterpress-printed by Nomad Letterpress on Magnani Pescia 160gsm (110lb) paper.
Each Lettered copy of Solaris includes an original piece of artwork from Matt Murphy, one of which is shown above.
This edition is housed in an enclosure inspired by the book case originally designed Swiss bookbinder Hugo Peller, featuring a spine in blue goatskin from Harmatan & Oakridge, extensively foil-stamped with silver stars and the title in gold.
A slipcase within the enclosure, revealed by opening two flaps and allowing the sides to fall, secures the book.
The book rises out of the slipcase as the sides of the enclosure are pressed down.
Each copy is signed by Matt Murphy, the illustrator; Pat Randle and Ellen Bills, the printers; and Phil Parkins, Production Director at Ludlow Bookbinders.
All copies of the Lettered Edition include “rights” to pre-order a matching letter of the next book from the Press during a private pre-order window.
US$2,695. Shipping is expected in June 2025.
Artwork by Matt Murphy
Matt Murphy is an award-winning, British illustrator based in Dorset, UK. Renowned for his conceptual approach, delicate textures and confident colour palettes, his work is full of mystery and meaning. Matt’s ability to communicate conceptual ideas with intelligent simplicity made him the perfect fit to capture the enigmatic and complex nature of Solaris and its visitors.
Matt’s breathtaking vision of Solaris comes to life in a stunning collection of sixteen full-colour illustrations and fourteen black and white chapter opening illustrations.
Colour Illustrations
There is one colour piece for each of the fourteen chapters; one for the wraparound cover of the Collector’s Edition; and a double page spread for the title page.
The artwork for the cover of the Collector’s Edition will be tipped into the Deluxe and Lettered Editions.
Chapter Opening Artwork
These chapter openings are inspired by the work of Hungarian painter, photographer, and professor in the Bauhaus school, László Moholy-Nagy. They incorporate elements from each chapter in Moholy-Nagy’s distinct style, blending diagrams and mathematical models as they would have appeared in the notebooks of Dr. Gibarian, one of the main characters in the novel.
Matt Murphy has also contributed Artist’s Notes to the edition.
Afterword by Jerzy Jarzębski
Jerzy Jarzębski (1948-2023) was a renowned scholar of 20th and 21st-century Polish literature, combining academic research with literary criticism. Jarzębski's work focused on prominent Polish writers, notably Stanisław Lem, to whom he devoted several books and articles. His insightful analyses of Lem’s works, including their philosophical and technical dimensions, have been instrumental in shaping the understanding and appreciation of Lem’s contributions to science fiction and literature at large.
The Conversation Tree Press edition of Solaris includes an article by Jarzębski, titled The Mirror, as an Afterword to our edition. It has been translated into English for the first time, by Aleksandra Sobczak-Kövesi.
Typography
Title Typography
Fontarte’s Komunikat FA is an experimental and geometrical typeface based on simple elements like circles, their parts, and straight lines, communicating the spirit of the future, dynamism, and modernity. Designed in 2004 by Fontarte studio, its origins trace back to a 1932 sketch by Polish vanguard artist and typographer Władysław Strzemiński, who believed modern letter forms should be standardized and based on lines and arches. He asserted that readability is a matter of habit and that new letter forms would become readable with practice.
Komunikat FA perfectly embodies the themes of the novel Solaris, mirroring Stanisław Lem's exploration of the unknown, the future, and human perception. Somewhat challenging to decipher at first, the title lettering’s abstract and reductionist nature reflects Solaricists’ ongoing scientific examination and philosophical inquiries into the planet’s enigmatic alien intelligence.
Headings and Body
The headings and body are set in FF Good and FF More, companion typefaces both designed by Polish type designer Łukasz Dziedzic.
Printing
We are proud to be collaborating again with Pat Randle and his team at Nomad Letterpress on the letterpress printing of this edition, having worked together on our first two editions - J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan and Joe Hill’s Faun.